John Keats

John Keats was born on October 31, 1795 in London and he died on February 23, 1821. John Keats was an English poet, and his writing was very romantic. He published three books of pottery in his lifetime. Born into a middle class family john had a good education. Sadly poverty kept him from marrying his love. John died at the young age of around only 25. His letters began to be published in 1848, and soon became very popular. John always enjoyed writing poetry, but poetry did not come easy for him. He had to work very hard, and practice at it. He died just four years after his poems were published. Still today his poems are very popular and enjoyed by many people.
Two poems by John Keats: TO SLEEP by: John Keats (1795-1821)
SOFT embalmer of the still midnight! Shutting with careful fingers and benign Our gloom-pleased eyes, embower'd from the light, Enshaded in forgetfulness divine; O soothest Sleep! if so it please thee, close, In midst of this thine hymn, my willing eyes, Or wait the amen, ere thy poppy throws Around my bed its lulling charities; Then save me, or the passèd day will shine Upon my pillow, breeding many woes; Save me from curious conscience, that still lords Its strength for darkness, burrowing like a mole; Turn the key deftly in the oilèd wards, And seal the hushèd casket of my soul.

LAST SONNET (1795-1821)
RIGHT Star, would I were steadfast as thou art-- Not in lone splendour hung aloft the night, And watching, with eternal lids apart, Like Nature's patient sleepless Eremite, The moving waters at their priest-like task Of pure ablution round earth's human shores, Or gazing on the new soft-fallen mask Of snow upon the mountains and the moors-- No--yet still steadfast, still unchangeable, Pillow'd upon my fair love's ripening breast, To feel for ever its soft fall and swell, Awake for ever in a sweet unrest, Still, still to hear her tender-taken breath, And so live ever--or else swoon to death.